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Has anyone taken Ranitidine 150mg?

Posted , 13 users are following.

pat38625
pat38625

Hi All,  had to see doc yesterday (just a review of medication I'm taking).  Well I was fit to be tied.  I think I have done pretty well - Started Nov '14 on 20mg and am at present on 3.5mg - and not  had any flares ( fingers crossed). Gps opinion as follows - I really should be off pred by now and also should decrease 1mg every time I am reducing.  Also said not to believe everything I read on this forum.  Only for this forum I don't know where I would be.  I was asked who is managing my PMR and my honest answer was myself.  Am too angry to go into details now grrrrrrrr.  

Yes has anyone taken Ranitidine 150mg twice a day - if so could you let me know how you got on with them?  I couldn't take omeprazole as I had been on them 10years or more and they were ineffective for reflux - dr. changed me to lansoprazole - can't take them due to severe constipation.  So am now on my second day of Ranitidine and feel ok.  Any information would be gratefully received and thanks in advance.  

Acid reflux long before PMR

0 likes, 54 replies

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  • lorna37853
    lorna37853 pat38625

    Posted

    Hi Pat   I've been on Ranitidine (Zantaz) a few times in my past, because of tummy troubles, and never had any problems with them.

    I was put on Esomeprazole fairly recently because of having tummy pains, worse than before.  They did work, but I wasn't too keen to take them for any long period of time, and I had to come off my palpitations medication which was unfortunate.

    However, I am to have a couple of check ups on my innards, and have been taken off Omeprazole, as it could give a false impression of not having inflammation when I have the hospital checks.

    Because of this I have been put back on Ranitidine, and am having no trouble at all.  Certainly having no adverse effect on my PMR.

    • EileenH
      EileenH lorna37853

      Posted

      Same thing - Zantac was the brand name, ranitidine is the substance name. 

      I honestly don't know why they have such a "thing" about using PPIs (omeprazole) - the marketing probably. They don't work for about a third of patients and their side effects are generally worse. They are only marginally better at stopping acid.

    • pat38625
      pat38625 lorna37853

      Posted

      Hi Lorna thank you so much for your quick reply.  I didn't know that it was Zantac.  I hated the lansoprazole as you had to take it at least one hour before eating but also the constipation was really bad.  I ditched them and was taking PLJ (lemon drink) with cooled boiled water and that helped as well.  I'm willing to give the Ranitidine a chance.  

      I have had every test there is going (well it was 10 years ago or more) camera down and then having a tube going up my nose and down into my stomach and wearing a box for 24 hours.  Everything was fine but if my memory serves me right the result was that I have a high level of acid, I think the number was 4.  Again thank you Lorna and kind regards to you.

    • pat38625
      pat38625 EileenH

      Posted

      I agree whole heartedly and I was on them for far too long.  There were times when I had to take 3 or 4 20mg doses just to help with the reflux and eat rennies as well.  I have been taking the lemon juice and it helps.  Today is my second day of the new ones and so far so good.  
    • daniel08939
      daniel08939 EileenH

      Posted

      EileenH,

              I usually agree with your comments but this time I have to take issue. When I have acid reflux or heartburn Zantac is fantastic.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga daniel08939

      Posted

      As far as I know Zantac is not a PPI, so I think you and Eileen actually agree! 
    • EileenH
      EileenH daniel08939

      Posted

      Daniel - I didn't say it wasn't - I said Zantac/ranitidine is almost as effective at stopping acid production as the PPIs that so many doctors seem to think are the best thing since sliced bread. The marketing tells them that PPIs are "far more effective" - when they aren't.

  • EileenH
    EileenH pat38625

    Posted

    I wouldn't believe EVERYTHING I read here - but I bet we know more about living with PMR and pred than he does! Not least the fact that this paper

    Long-term follow-up of polymyalgia rheumatica patients treated with methotrexate and steroids.  by Cimmino MA, Salvarani C et al

    (who are one of the top PMR study groups in the world) found about a third of patients require pred for more than 6 years. So he can put THAT in his pipe and smoke it.

    Cheek!!!!!

    • pat38625
      pat38625 EileenH

      Posted

      I am still angry over yesterday with the doc.  She was stressed out (not my problem) and admitted she was all over the place and asked me to come back and discuss other things - SOME CHANCE  I will not be seeing her again, she was  quite curt - not my problem if she's had a bad day.  We all have bad days now and again, but you need to leave it at the door before you bring it into your professional life.  And like yourself I don't believe everything I read but I believe a good lot of info. on here.  I have gained so much knowledge, more than a bunch of drs/rheumies could or would, give me the same amount of info, also they wouldn't have the time.

      Afterwards when I got home, I thought - it would do you more good Dr. if you from time to time logged on to this forum and gained some knowledge.  I may look the paper you suggest, print it and bring it down on Thursday when I have to get my bloods done.  Thanks for the heads up.

    • EileenH
      EileenH pat38625

      Posted

      Good luck - hope the next doctor has their head screwed on right! 
    • pat38625
      pat38625 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you, my own dr. is great and he trusts my judgement re:pred.  His handshake is like a big bear paw, warm and comforting. Also we were brought up in the same area.   Patience I have most of the time but yesterday took the biscuit with Miss KNOWITALL NOT.   I really shouldn't let her under my skin.  I've had my rant - and feel better.  Thank you.

    • BettyE
      BettyE pat38625

      Posted

      I'm fuming for you!

      I do wonder if some professionals are getting a bit uptight about the prospect of tech taking over some of their patch.

      Had  a PPI prescribed years ago and it made me much worse. Returned it to the surgery pharmacist who remarked that theymade a lot of patients worse.

      I'd like to be a fly on the wall if you give him Eileen's reference to read.

    • pat38625
      pat38625 BettyE

      Posted

      Thank you Betty, I will be printing the paper off and it will be put in an envelope with her name on it and handed into reception,  In the meantime the Ranitidine 150mg has caused no problems whatsoever.  It does what it says on the box.  Happy Days.
  • Babazaga
    Babazaga pat38625

    Posted

    I used Ranitidine for acid reflux for a few years.  I only took it as needed.  That said, I have been taking Omeprazole since last July when I was diagnosed with GCA because the Ranitidine just couldn't take care of the stomach pain.  I've been trying to get off the Omeprazole---taking it every other day when possible.  I am now on 7 mg of Prednisone and planning to go back to Ranitidine.  Any acid blocker is not a good thing after awhile---the stomach learns not to create acid

    which is not healthy.  Omeprazole is the more powerful of the two.

    If Ranitidine takes care of your stomach pain, then I'd go with that.  

    • EileenH
      EileenH Babazaga

      Posted

      "Omeprazole is the more powerful of the two" - say the reps! The difference is minimal apparently. "New improved..." is possibly new, not always improved!

    • pat38625
      pat38625 Babazaga

      Posted

      Thank you Babazaga - I may just take the Ranitidine as and when instead of 150mg twice a day.  The .....prazoles are not for me.  I have been on them far too long.  Thank you again.
    • pat38625
      pat38625 Babazaga

      Posted

      Hi Babazaga, thank you so much for your input.  Good for you getting down to 7mg and hopefully you will be able to ditch the Omeprazole and get back to Ranitidine (which Is the best thing since sliced bread) . After this week I am going to take the Ranitidine as and when.  These two tablets are poles apart.  
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